AFL blocks Football Federation Australia from booking Etihad Stadium for A-League grand final

THE AFL has blocked Football Federation Australia from booking Etihad Stadium for the A-League grand final.

The standoff means Melbourne Victory, should it win hosting rights, will have to play the title decider at AAMI Park, denying in excess of 20,000 fans the chance to attend.

The Herald Sun understands Etihad Stadium management was happy to allow the tentative booking for Sunday, May 4 when FFA first made its approach six months ago.

But the AFL has contractual rights to the ground and decided to book the Docklands stadium on the night of Saturday, May 3 (for Essendon v Western Bulldogs) and the following afternoon (North Melbourne v Gold Coast).News_Rich_Media: Sunday Shootout: Mark Milligan recaps the Sydney FC V Melbourne Victory game.

The MCG is also in use on both days of that weekend and an A-League grand final across the road at AAMI Park would further clog the Olympic Park precinct.

Etihad is available to FFA on Friday, May 2, but a grand final cannot be played in that timeslot for interstate fan travel and broadcast reasons.

It's understood Sydney's ANZ and Allianz stadiums and Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium have successfully been pre-booked for the game.

FFA said last night they were disappointed with the outcome and would seek to avoid a similar situation in the future.

"FFA made a formal request to book Etihad Stadium six months ago, but we've been told recently that pre-existing rights have been exercised by other venue hirers, after the A-League fixture was published," an FFA spokesman said.

"This is a matter for the venue managers, but it's something FFA will discuss with the Victorian Government in due course. "News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports football commentator Robbie Slater shares his thoughts on who will be in the Socceroos new central-defensive pairing and how the A-League ladder is looking after five rounds.

Etihad Stadium has hosted three A-League grand finals, netting crowds of 55,436 (2007), 53,273 (2009) and 44,560 in 2010 when capacity was reduced to allow the ground's retractable seating to be brought in.

AAMI Park has a capacity of just over 30,000.

The AFL on Tuesday denied the scheduling move was aimed at inconveniencing the A-League.

"The AFL booked Etihad Stadium on that weekend because May - along with April, June, July and August - is the peak point of our home and away season with nine matches every weekend," an AFL spokesman said.News_Rich_Media: FFA Chief Executive David Gallop says the dream is alive for the round ball game to become the biggest football code in Australia, as he marks one year as the boss of Australian football.

"Etihad Stadium is hosting a greater number of games in 2014 because there was no final played at the venue in 2013, which further requires our call on the venue in 2014 as the primary tenant."

Only eight times during the AFL's 2014 season will both Etihad Stadium and the MCG both host Saturday and Sunday matches in the same round.

Two of those rounds also clash with the A-League's elimination final and preliminary final weekends.

Those finals can be played on Friday or Thursday nights as both Friday April 18 (Good Friday) and Friday April 25 (Anzac Day) are public holidays.

Etihad Stadium communications manager Bill Lane said the AFL "always has first right" to booking the ground.

"We'd like to be able to host an A-League grand final, but sometimes the stars don't quite align," he said.